As part of my gratitude practice, I repeatedly give thanks for my life during the 2020-2021 pandemic. While those closest to me stayed safe, I have numerous friends who lost a loved one to the Coronavirus. Living in the United States, I deposited stimulus and unemployment checks and lined up in April for my vaccines. […]
The American Heart Association dedicates February as a month to love and care for your heart health. I high five that. But, we need to love and care for our hearts from an emotional and spiritual aspect too. Nourish Your Heart: First Love Yourself That's why I designed my signature First Love Yourself workshops. These […]
Guest blog by Sandra Gomez de la Torre, (pictured above) a Kundalini Yoga instructor in Barcelona, Spain I rarely post guest blogs. However, this first-person story about the Kundalini Yoga community struck a chord. Sandra, aka Narayan Himat Kaur, wrote in Spanish. So please (try to) read her version. However, for the Spanish-challenged, scroll down […]
This is the 18th year that Grammy-nominated recording artist, Jai Uttal, and his classical Indian dancer yogi wife, Nubia Teixeira, run a Kirtan Camp. This camp is all about play. Playing and singing devotional chants, that is. Kirtan is an ancient practice. As part of bhakti (devotion), it is a branch of yoga that helps […]
Social distancing and quarantines are no fun. Fortunately, virtual sanghas are forming to keep us sane. For example, the other day, Gov. Cuomo mentioned an extremely heartfelt talk he had, virtually, with his daughter who was in self-isolation. Without a doubt, technology is providing us with a welcoming doorway. A bridge to keep us connected. […]
Bhakti is big for me. Devotion often expressed through group chanting, or kirtan, is my favorite of the yoga branches. So, my heart’s humming, knowing World Bhakti Festival is coming up. In Dallas. Feb. 28, 29, and March 1. World Bhakti Festival is a yoga and wellness festival. However, it features Bhakti leading lights Sean […]
Today is Thanksgiving. I don’t celebrate traditional Thanksgiving. Rather, I try to abide by the age-old Yoga Sutras. The lessons of the Yamas and the Niyamas. No stuffing myself on holiday fare. Not interested in Black Friday or CyberMonday. I don’t need anything. Rather than amassing more, I give. Seva (selfless service) is a part […]
In the Western world, too often, yoga means physical fitness practice. People focus on mastering a pose or hope to work up a sweat in a yoga class. But, that’s not what yoga really is. Patanjali, in the Yoga Sutras wrote Sthira Sukham Asanam. To me, that means stillness in your seat or space. Sounds […]
The Namaste Counsel is hosting a WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT RETREAT with Sita Devi Dasi, September 21, as well as Community Kirtan on September 22. The retreat will focus on sisterly sangha and soaking up the prana in serene Wimberley. Sita Devi Dasi heads the Women’s Empowerment program at Radhanath Swami’s Govardhan Eco Village. The eco-village is […]
There may be a thousand people crammed in a large temple hall. If this were the U.S., it would likely be against the fire code. But we are in Mumbai, India. With 26,000 people per square kilometer. This is an oasis of spirituality. A temple filled with love, gratitude, and flowers. A golden altar houses […]
In my last article, I spoke about finding thousands of Ganeshas in Varanasi. Unexpectedly. Beyond the Ganeshas, almost everywhere in Varanasi spirituality was overflowing. “It is the headquarters of the Brahmin faith, and one-eighth of the population are priests of that church.*” Just as I relished morning arati in Vrindavan, I woke up early each […]
La Salud Ósea y el Masaje Ayurvédico El cuidado de los huesos, y prevención de la osteoporosis no sólo se trata de levantar pesas u otros ejercicios en los que se carga el peso del cuerpo. Hay un método ayurvédico que es sencillo, y una forma de mimarse o cuidarte de ti mismo. Se lo […]